Adjustable desk



(No Model.)

0. M. GHILDS. ADJUSTABLE DESK.

N0.'493,480. Patented Mar. 14, 1893.

m: NORRIS PETERS co PHOTO-LITNQ, WASHINGTON n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

CHARLES M. OHILDS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

ADJUSTABLE DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 493,480, dated March 14, 1893.

Application filed October 20, 1892. Serial No. 449,423. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES M. CHILDS, of Kansas City, Jackson county, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Desks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to an improvement in folding desks or arm rests, and my object is to produce an arm rest or desk, designed especially to be secured to a vertical Wall or partition and near a telephone, comprising a cylindrical casing, containingaroll of paper held flat upon a board or table by an adjustable board; the board or table, being adapted to be folded up against the wall when not in use.

Another object is to provide an arm rest and paper holder for use in corridors of post oflices, banks, and other public and private buildings where such devices are useful,and where the accommodations or space is so limited that it is inconvenient for tables to be used.

A further object of my invention is to provide an arm rest or desk, that is inexpensive and durable in construction, and which is easily secured in position.

To the above purposes, my invention consists in certain peculiar and novel features of construction and arrangement, as will be hereinafter specified and claimed.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1. is a perspective view of the desk or arm rest secured in operative position against a wall or partition, and showing a board or table in its vertical and inoperative position in dotted lines. Fig. 2. is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3. is a detail view showing a portion of the rear side of the cylindrical casing, and showing the pivotal connection thereof.

In the drawings,1 represents a wall or partition of a room or corridor of a building, to which are secured in horizontal alignment the vertically arranged and opposite supporting castings 2, by means of screws 3 or other suitable means, which pass through the feet 4 of the castings, and into the wall or partition. The cylindrical casing 5, comprises a cylindrical body portion, composed of segmental and elongated plates 6 and 7, and the end plates S8, which are rigidly attached to and connected by the segmental plate 6. The rear or inner longitudinal edge of the plate 7 is adjacent to the rear or inner edge of the plate 6, and the plate 7 is further provided at its rear or inner edge with the laterally and horizontally projecting trunnions or pins 99, which pivotally engage recesses or apertures 1010 in the periphery of the circular heads 1111 of the end plates 8S. The end plates further consist each of an extension arm 12 projecting forward a suitable distance, which are parallel to each other, and are in the same plane, preferably, with their respective circular heads 11l1, and have secured between the board or plate 14:, by means of screws 13 or other suitable means, passing through said arms and into the edges of the board or plate. The rear end of the board or plate is formed with a beveled or segmental edge 15, arranged concentrically with the axis of the circular heads 1l11.

Secured by the screws 17 to the underside of the board 14, and projecting slightly beyond the lower and forward edge, when the board is down, of the beveled surface, and a suitable distance from each other, are plates or lugs 16, which normally engage the elongated and corresponding apertures or slots 18 of the free end of the segmental plate 7. The circular heads of the end plates S-8 are further provided with the segmental slots 10, arranged concentrically to the axis thereof, and which engage the longitudinally aligned guide pins 2, projecting from the inner or adjacent faces of the brackets 2.

A roll of paper 20, is inclosed within the casing 5, and the outer end projects through the space or slot 19, formed between the outer end or edge of the plate 6 and the rear or beveled end of the plate 14:, and is carried along the top or upper surface of the said board or plate, and under the fiat side of the adj ustable bar 21, which is semicircular in cross section and extends transversely of the upper surface of the said board or plate and near the outer end thereof. The bar is further provided near its outer ends with the screws or projections 22, which extend downwardly through vertical apertures in the board, and haveheadsorenlargementsat theirlowerends. The lower end of the perforations through which the screws or projections pass are enlarged at 25,for the reception of a spiral spring 24, which surround each screw or projection and bears at its opposite ends againstthe head of the screw and the annular shoulder 25 surrounding the screw, and formed in the under side of the board 14. A metal strip 26 is secured transversely of and to the forward edge of the board to prevent anydefacement thereof. This arm rest or desk, as will be understood, rests normallyin the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and

when it is desired to use the desk or arm rest it is simply pulled down to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, and the projecting end of the roll of paper written upon if desired, the end of the paper projecting beyond the forward edge of the adjustable bar is then pulled forward the desired distance, and the forward edge of the flat surface of said adjustable bar forms a guide by which to tear the paper written upon from the roller, as will be understood.

Toplace the roll of paperin, or to remove it from the cylindrical casing, compress slightly the outer or forward longitudinal edge of the plate 7 until the apertures are disengaged from the lugs or plates secured to the board, and then allow the segmental plate 7 to pivotally open. Insert or remove the roll of paper, and again compress the outer or forward longitudinal edge of the pivotal segment plate 7 and close the same,until the apertures register with, and are engaged by the projecting ends of the lugs or plates secured to the board.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A folding desk orarm rest, comprising a cylindrical casing, a board or plate secured to and projecting from said casing, and vertically arranged and stationary guide and supporting castings pivotally connected to said cylindrical casing at each end thereof, substantially as described.

2. A folding desk or arm rest, comprising vertically arranged suppporting castings secured to the wall in any suitable mannera suitable distance apart, a cylindrical casing located and revoluble vertically between said. supporting castings, inclosing end plates pivotally connected to the supporting castings, and a connecting plate segmental in cross section connected at each end to said inclosing plates, and a second connecting plate segmental in cross section, having its longitudinal edges adjacent to the longitudinal edges of the first connecting plate and provided at its rear and inner longitudinal edge with laterally extending and horizontal pivot pins engaging recesses or apertures in the per1phery of the inelosing plates, and having elongated apertures or slots near its forward longitudidal edge adapted to engage locking 1ugs or plates secured to the board or plate carried by the cylindrical casing, substantially as described.

3. In a folding desk or arm rest, a cylindr1- cal casing open at each end, and carrying an extension board or table, and plates adapted to close the ends of said cylindrical casing and to inclose the outer edges of the board or table, substantially as described.

4. In a folding desk or arm rest, a cylindrical casing having segmental and elongated slots in its opposite ends, concentric with the axis of the cylinder and end supporting castings, secured to the wall, and guide pins projecting from the inner face of the end supporting castings, and adapted to engage the slots in each end of the cylindrical casing, substantially as described.

5. A cylindrical casing, comprising segmental and elongated plates, and aboard or table having its rear edge beveled and arranged concentrically to the axis of the cylinder formed by segmental plates, and lugs or plates secured to the boardand adapted to engage apertures in the lower segmental plate near each end thereof, substantially as described.

6. In a folding desk or arm rest, a cylindrical casing, formed of two segmental and elongated plates permanently adjacent at their rear or inner longitudinal edges, an end plate, comprising a circular enlargement adapted to fit against the segmental ends of the plates forming the cylinder, and provided each with an outstanding arm parallel to each other, substantially as described.

7. In a folding desk or arm rest, a gylindrical casing, formed of two segmental and elongated plates having their rear or inner longitudinal edges adjacent to each other, and end plates, comprising a circular enlargement adapted to fit against the segmental ends of the plates forming the cylinder, and provided each with an outstanding arm parallel with each other, and having a board or plate secured between said parallel arms and having its rear edge beveled concentrically to the axis of the cylindrical casing, substantially as described.

8. In a folding desk or arm rest, a cylindrical casing comprising end plates having extension arms projecting therefrom,a segmental plate connecting said end closing plates, and a second segmental plate hinged at its rear or inner edge between said end plates, and having slots or openings in its forward edge, a board carried between the extension arms of'the end plates, and having locking lugs or plates at its rear edge adapted to en.- gage normally the slots or openings in the forward edge of the segmental plate, and openthe upper side of the board, substantially as [O ings or perforations also provided in the said set forth.

board,andavertioally adjustable transversely In testimony whereof I afiix my signature extending bar, having screws or projections in the presence of two witnesses.

depending from the under side and engaging e.

the perforations of the board, and springs CHARLES OHILDS' interposed between the under side of the board Witnesses: and the headed end of the screw or projec- MARGARET R. REMLEY, tion, and adapted to hold the bar firmly upon MAUD FITZPATRICK. 

